Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin after talks at the White House with Donald Trump and European leaders, who welcomed Trump’s announcement that the US would be involved in providing security guarantees for Ukraine. Listen to Trump 100 as you scroll.
Tuesday 19 August 2025 10:01, UK
Ukraine’s air force has said that Russia launched 270 drones and 10 missiles in one of its largest attacks this month.
Earlier, we told you that explosions were heard in the city of Kremenchuk, with cities closer to the frontline also under threat of strikes (see 5.48 post).
It came just hours after Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded talks at the White House with European leaders and Donald Trump.
The air force added that it shot down 230 drones and six missiles, with strikes recorded across 16 locations.
Ukraine’s foreign affairs minister said there has been damage to the country’s energy infrastructure.
Sir Keir Starmer will chair a virtual meeting of the coalition of the willing this morning after the talks at the White House.
Downing Street has said the prime minister will update leaders on the outcomes of the talks and discuss next steps.
Led by the UK and France, the initiative could see troops from a number of European and NATOcountries deployed to Ukraineas peacekeepers in order to deter Vladimir Putin from rearming and attacking again in the future.
Trump said the US would provide security guarantees and didn’t rule out sending US troops to enforce any peace deal between Russia and Ukraine – something NATO’s secretary general called a “real breakthrough”.
Talks between Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump and European leaders at the White House set out a roadmap of what we can expect over the coming weeks…
By Dominic Waghorn, international affairs editor, in Ukraine
It’s always wise to let the dust settle before reaching conclusions with this presidency.
But on the face of it, we are further away from peace now than we were two weeks ago.
The consensus that held back then was that Vladimir Putin will only relent under maximum pressure.
He does not want slithers of territory. He wants the whole of Ukraine extinguished and absorbed into his greater Russia.
To stop him, allies agreed an immediate ceasefire was necessary and much more painful pressure, namely sanctions hitting his oil industry. Europeans and Republicans in Congress agree on that.
Vague security guarantees
Then came Alaska and Donald Trump’s U-turn. No ceasefire and no more severe sanctions. So, less pressure.
Yesterday’s reality TV diplomatic circus in Washington has not shifted him on that stance, so he stays – it seems – now aligned with Putin on those crucial points.
Making matters worse for Ukraine’s allies seems to be accepting it will have to give up land taken by force.
They sweeten the pill by saying of course only Ukraine can decide whether or not to cede territory, but there is now enormous pressure on Zelenskyy to do so.
In return, there is nebulous and vague talk of security guarantees. European leaders are seizing on the fact Trump did not rule out American troops being involved and hinted at US support for post-war security arrangements.
Putin facts
But that is little consolation for Ukrainians. They point out this president changes his mind as often as his socks and goes back on commitments, even those enshrined in international treaties.
The best that can be said for the White House meeting is it sets up more such meetings.
Much of yesterday’s events were focused on stroking Trump’s ego. Many here would prefer he was reminded of a few hard facts about this war: Putin cannot be trusted. Putin wants the end of Ukraine. Putin will only relent under maximum pressure.
Protracted international diplomacy may suit Trump’s craving for attention, but the Ukrainians fear it will only take us further away from peace.
A microphone picked up Donald Trump discussing Vladimir Putin’s intentions with Emmanuel Macron…
Here’s a look behind the scenes of those White House talks yesterday, as European leaders sat in front of Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
The US president also had a map of the Russia-Ukraine border in the corner of the room showing the territorial situation.
Despite Donald Trump’s separate talks with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia still believes it can grind the war out, an analyst has said.
Speaking to our Breakfast presenter Wilfred Frost, the director of military sciences at thinktank RUSI explained that Russia believes it can wear the Ukrainians down.
Matthew Savill also said Russia was trying to outlast European support, adding “the US does appear to be flaky in that respect”.
Watch the full interview…
EU ambassadors have held a video call this morning after the White House talks and been informed of the details.
As a reminder, European leaders will meet at 12pm UK time on a video call for a full debrief.
The call will include all members of the European Council, the highest political body of the EU.
By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent
Vladimir Putin wasn’t at the White House but his influence clearly was. At times, it dominated the room.
There were three key moments that revealed the Russian president’s hold over Donald Trump.
The first was in the Oval Office. Sitting alongside Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the US president told reporters: “I don’t think you need a ceasefire.”
It was a stunning illustration of Trump’s about-face in his approach to peace. For the past six months, a ceasefire has been his priority, but after meeting Putin in Alaska, suddenly it’s not.
This was confirmation that he now views the war through Moscow’s eyes.
The second was the format itself, with Trump reverting to his favoured ask-what-you-like open-ended Q&A.
In Alaska, Putin wasn’t made to take any questions – most likely, because he didn’t want to. But here, Zelenskyy didn’t have a choice. He was subjected to a barrage of them to see if he’d learnt his lesson from last time.
It was a further demonstration of the special status Trump seems to afford to Putin.
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